Mayoral candidates discuss DEED, homelessness, business attraction at NSBA Mayoral Forum

Homelessness, downtown development, property taxes, business attraction and public safety were the main topics of discussion at yesterday’s Mayoral Forum hosted by the NSBA: Saskatoon’s Business Association.

When it comes to business attraction, candidate Cynthia Block plans to offer businesses tax abatements, grow the labour force, and create a ‘livable, walkable, attractive and affordable city’ with projects like the Downtown Event and Entertainment District.

Candidate Don Atchison raised his hand to rebut her comments.

“We can talk all we want about having a walkable, rideable city on bikes, but if you can’t pay your property taxes it isn’t worth a hill of beans.”

On the same topic, candidate Carey Tarasoff says businesses are avoiding Saskatoon because they feel forced to establish themselves downtown. He suggests supporting businesses, regardless of where they’re ran from. Meantime Gord Wyant hopes to limit budget increases by implementing an 8-point budget transformation plan to ensure Saskatoon is an affordable place to do business.

An eager crowd listened to the candidates convey their thoughts on the Downtown Event and Entertainment District. Wyant stated that he loves the idea of downtown development, but the DEED seems like more of a want than a need.

“We have too many challenges in terms of delivery of core services. We need to get our house in order before we turn down this road. I prefer an approach that saw an expansion of TCU in order to accommodate larger conventions and trade shows in our downtown and see how we can move forward from that.”

Atchison stated that if the City couldn’t afford the $20 million price tag of snow removal, it won’t be able to pay $1.2 billion for a new entertainment district. He adds that with the amount of crime in the city, no one will want to go to the DEED unless more policing and security measures are put in place.

Tarasoff says the DEED will not save the city; much like the Remai Art Gallery, River Landing, and the new Library didn’t.

Block concluded the debate by saying the DEED is a must if entertainment in Saskatoon is to be efficient and affordable in the future.

Homelessness, mental health and addictions have been in the headlines recently, so it was only fitting for Saskatoon’s candidates to be asked their thoughts on the matter.

Tarasoff says Saskatoon needs a compound shelter in the north end that would transport users to and from the facility and bring the wrap around services to them. Wyant suggested a different approach.

“I propose to take control of abandoned properties in Saskatoon…I propose to work and build a partnership between SIIT and Sask Polytechnic, industry and government, to renovate those homes and turn them over to housing providers in the city like Camponi or Quint.”

Block says the Fairhaven shelter model wasn’t successful and change needs to be made. She supports the housing programs that Wyant mentioned, but says he supported changes to the province’s income support program, which creates more homeless people every day.

Atchison says in the next ten years, ten thousand affordable homes must be generated. He alluded to a housing plan that he will release on Thursday.